Hospitals in Merseyside have found a creative way for patients to keep in touch with family members despite visiting restrictions.
On Thursday, March 26, the Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS trust - which manages Southport and Formby District General Hospital and Ormskirk and District General Hospital - stopped patient visiting.
At the time the trust said the decision was to protect patients and staff amid the coronavirus outbreak and to follow the governments guidance for people to avoid unnecessary travel.
Separate arrangements were made and applied to the following areas:
- Maternity and women in labour – one birthing partner per patient
- Child inpatients – one carer per child
Chief Executive Trish Armstrong-Child at the time said: “This is not a decision we have taken lightly but it is in line with the Government’s instructions on Tuesday (March 24) to minimise social contact during the current situation.
“Please consider other ways of speaking with your loved ones, such as by phone or video calling.”
But now the hospitals have made sure patients will not go without speaking to loved ones while they are staying in hospital.
The trust said a staff member has been allocated per ward to arrange a call for every patient and where possible this will be a video call.
Families and friends can also email the hospitals with a letter and staff will print it, pop it in an envelope and deliver to patients.
In a tweet the trust said: "We have allocated a staff member per ward to arrange a call every day for every patient, video call if possible, to connect with loved ones.
"Or email a letter to Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals -tr.lettertolovedones@nhs.net we will print, pop in envelope and deliver to patients. Staying in touch is vital."
People thanked the trust on social media and congratulated them for their amazing idea.
On Twitter, user @AgeUKL_Louise said: "Love this! Well done @SONHStrust."
A second user, @baconbazooka added: "Thank you for all your hard work!"
A third user, @powellyontheweb also said: "Great idea!"
